Abstract

[Abstract]: The fungal endophytes of Australian myco-heterotrophic orchids are largelyunknown. In this investigation we identified the fungal endophytes of threespecies of Australian myco-heterotrophic orchid: the terrestrial species Dipodiumvariegatum and Dipodium hamiltonianum and the vine-like Erythrorchiscassythoides. Similar to studies of myco-heterotrophic orchids in Nth Americaand Europe the fungal endophytes of Dipodium spp. are members of theRussulaceae. E. cassythoides contained both ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophicfungi suggesting that it can derive its carbon via fungi from both dead andliving plant material.